Charmed – S1E13 – From Fear To Eternity
So, this episode can be summed up with one word, or rather name. Barbas. In this case, I mean that in the best way possible. Yes, Barbas is a creepy demon, and evil, and all that jazz, but he brings about a really great story, so I can’t help but like him a little bit. I am well aware that this likely puts me in a minority.
Since the Barbas story is kind of the big one of the episode, I’ll start with that. What I like about this story, is that it provides us more insight into Prue, both as a daughter and a sister. It also provides our first glimpse of Patty. We learn in this episode that Patty’s death was the result of drowning, and that this is now Prue’s greatest fear. Going along with that, Prue has also not been able to say “I love you” since her mother’s death, for fear that she might lose someone else close to her. It’s interesting that her sisters are just now noticing this, after 20 some years. It’s also a testament to the writers, who likely had to make sure that Prue had not said "I love you" in any previous episodes. This idea does lead to the nice scene at the end where she finally tells Piper and Phoebe that she loves them. I think the concept of the story is nice in that it really reveals that, despite a tough exterior, Prue has her own set of fears and insecurities, and that she genuinely does care about her sisters. Not that her caring was ever really called into question before, but there’s definitely an extra emphasis placed on that fact in this episode.
There also seems to be an emphasis placed on Prue and Phoebe’s relationship with this story. As distant as Phoebe may have been from her sisters in the years since Gram’s death, it may have been, in a sense, a coping mechanism. Perhaps I’m reading way too much into this, but compare it to Prue’s inability to say “I love you.” By distancing herself from her sisters, Phoebe also blocked out emotional attachment, just as Prue creates emotional disconnect by not saying “I love you.” If you aren’t close to something, losing it is not as painful. Having lost their mother, been essentially abandoned by their father, and then lost their grandmother, these girls are no strangers to the pain of loss. Prue, Piper, and Phoebe are essentially the only family each other has left. By this reading, it makes perfect sense that Phoebe’s greatest fear is losing one of her sisters, and essentially makes Prue and Phoebe’s fears the same, though according to this episode, Prue’s fear of drowning trumps that of saying “I love you,” but I argue plot convenience on that one.
Oh, Piper. The story of Piper’s obsession with Friday the 13th superstitions, amusing as it may be, is actually pretty fitting with her character. She’s the worrier of the clan, so if anyone is going to believe in that stuff, it’d probably be her. Of course, she ends up also jeopardizing a potential relationship in the process. This gives us another Jeremy reference, as Piper apparently met him on Friday the 13th, and fears that starting another relationship on that day is doomed. I guess she was kind of right. In other news, Andy connects Prue to another crime scene (big shocker there…), and Phoebe gets a job. Of course, as seems to be the case since episode one, the job doesn’t last long. I do, however, have to give her (or, I guess the writers) kuddos for putting her morals ahead of her potential career.
Overall, I really enjoy this episode. There is a lot of insight into the sisters and their relationships, as well as who they are character-wise. Also, I won’t say too much for spoiler purposes, but there is some definite foreshadowing in this episode. It’s most likely unintentional, but it adds a richness to the episode that I don’t think is as obvious on first viewing. Anyway, onto the next one.
Best Quote(s):
Phoebe: I know, I know, but choosing the right good luck charm is a very big decision.
Prue: If they all bring good luck, what's the worse that can happen if you choose the wrong one?
Prue: Well, if he can kill thirteen unmarried witches before midnight, he'll be freed from the underworld to wreak his terror every single day.
Piper: Unmarried. Like being single doesn't have enough problems.
Best Moment:
-Prue vanquishes Barbas
Best Sibling Moment(s):
-Prue and Phoebe at the pool
-Prue tells her sisters she loves them
So, this episode can be summed up with one word, or rather name. Barbas. In this case, I mean that in the best way possible. Yes, Barbas is a creepy demon, and evil, and all that jazz, but he brings about a really great story, so I can’t help but like him a little bit. I am well aware that this likely puts me in a minority.
Since the Barbas story is kind of the big one of the episode, I’ll start with that. What I like about this story, is that it provides us more insight into Prue, both as a daughter and a sister. It also provides our first glimpse of Patty. We learn in this episode that Patty’s death was the result of drowning, and that this is now Prue’s greatest fear. Going along with that, Prue has also not been able to say “I love you” since her mother’s death, for fear that she might lose someone else close to her. It’s interesting that her sisters are just now noticing this, after 20 some years. It’s also a testament to the writers, who likely had to make sure that Prue had not said "I love you" in any previous episodes. This idea does lead to the nice scene at the end where she finally tells Piper and Phoebe that she loves them. I think the concept of the story is nice in that it really reveals that, despite a tough exterior, Prue has her own set of fears and insecurities, and that she genuinely does care about her sisters. Not that her caring was ever really called into question before, but there’s definitely an extra emphasis placed on that fact in this episode.
There also seems to be an emphasis placed on Prue and Phoebe’s relationship with this story. As distant as Phoebe may have been from her sisters in the years since Gram’s death, it may have been, in a sense, a coping mechanism. Perhaps I’m reading way too much into this, but compare it to Prue’s inability to say “I love you.” By distancing herself from her sisters, Phoebe also blocked out emotional attachment, just as Prue creates emotional disconnect by not saying “I love you.” If you aren’t close to something, losing it is not as painful. Having lost their mother, been essentially abandoned by their father, and then lost their grandmother, these girls are no strangers to the pain of loss. Prue, Piper, and Phoebe are essentially the only family each other has left. By this reading, it makes perfect sense that Phoebe’s greatest fear is losing one of her sisters, and essentially makes Prue and Phoebe’s fears the same, though according to this episode, Prue’s fear of drowning trumps that of saying “I love you,” but I argue plot convenience on that one.
Oh, Piper. The story of Piper’s obsession with Friday the 13th superstitions, amusing as it may be, is actually pretty fitting with her character. She’s the worrier of the clan, so if anyone is going to believe in that stuff, it’d probably be her. Of course, she ends up also jeopardizing a potential relationship in the process. This gives us another Jeremy reference, as Piper apparently met him on Friday the 13th, and fears that starting another relationship on that day is doomed. I guess she was kind of right. In other news, Andy connects Prue to another crime scene (big shocker there…), and Phoebe gets a job. Of course, as seems to be the case since episode one, the job doesn’t last long. I do, however, have to give her (or, I guess the writers) kuddos for putting her morals ahead of her potential career.
Overall, I really enjoy this episode. There is a lot of insight into the sisters and their relationships, as well as who they are character-wise. Also, I won’t say too much for spoiler purposes, but there is some definite foreshadowing in this episode. It’s most likely unintentional, but it adds a richness to the episode that I don’t think is as obvious on first viewing. Anyway, onto the next one.
Best Quote(s):
Phoebe: I know, I know, but choosing the right good luck charm is a very big decision.
Prue: If they all bring good luck, what's the worse that can happen if you choose the wrong one?
Prue: Well, if he can kill thirteen unmarried witches before midnight, he'll be freed from the underworld to wreak his terror every single day.
Piper: Unmarried. Like being single doesn't have enough problems.
Best Moment:
-Prue vanquishes Barbas
Best Sibling Moment(s):
-Prue and Phoebe at the pool
-Prue tells her sisters she loves them